Thinkpads Forum

First off, hey! Second off, I have a big problem with my little TP 240.

Got the thing in great condition from a friend, who gave me a 380ED as well. Battery still holds good charge, and I've had no complaints using it, except for the inability to transfer files! This one is a 2609-21U (or is it the other number, EDIT:whoops?), which has a Celeron, 64MB RAM, and Windows 98 First Edition. Its got the floppy drive port on the side, but sadly, we can't find the one for this model. I got one that almost fit, but the plug was just a little too big, and nobody else seems to have one. Shipping is probably out of the question, due to money and my current location.
Because it is FE, USB storage devices don't work, and I have a different PCMCIA networking card than was installed with the system. I also have been searching around for a ZIP drive to use with the serial port on the back, but no such luck in finding the disks themselves. Then finally it hit me, what about IR? Then, for some reason, 98 is giving me a Error 45 on the IR controls, which I can't understand why or how to fix it. I also had an idea for using the modem and the thinkpad dial up utility to quickly connect just enough to get the USB drivers downloaded, but not only can I not be sure the provided numbers are still in service, but I found out that we recently switched from free long distance to local calling only...and I DON'T want to rack up a long distance charge...

I also don't have a serial null modem cable for that method of transfer, only a parallel to serial cable that came with an old external modem...but whether or not it'd work for PC to PC transfer (and how to go about that), I'm not sure. I also have a situation brewing with the OS...I'd REALLY like Second Edition, and I have two copies of it, one having never been used, to my knowledge. I'd really rather have a fully upgraded 98SE than First Edition, but if its impossible...I have an idea, but I'd just like to get data transfer going.

If anyone has any suggestions on what to do, I'd be REALLY grateful. I'm lugging around this large Dell laptop, and the TP240 is light and can do everything I'd need...if I could just get it upgraded.

Thanks,
Atari

2609-21U would be the type. The other number is probably the serial number.


What exactly is your problem?

Do want to transfer files once (installation files for Win 98 SE)?
Take the hard drive out of the 240 and connect it to another computer, copy the files onto the hard drive and back into the 240.

If you want to tranfer files regularily, update to Win 98 SE to get USB mass storage working.

Or upgrade the RAM to 320 MB (64 MB onboard + 256 MB module) and install Win 2k or Win XP.
When you deactivate unnessecary stuff both run rather nicely. (I had a 240X some time ago.)

I transferred it to the other Thinkpad and installed 98. Put it back in the 240 to a "Not a system disk" error.

Now what...

I had a friend show me this bootmanager that could sit in the MBR and load no matter what, as well as load basic USB drivers. I was thinking that you could then somehow use that to create two partitions, load the D: partition with the setup files, and initiate the setup. Problem being neither of us knew exactly how to do this without transferring hard drives and getting problems when transferring (like I just had). Its called Plop Bootmanager, but I may have wrecked my chance to install because I don't have 2.5 to 3.5 adapter, and it seems loading from another laptop breaks the hard drive for the other laptop.

You are going to have to find a floppy drive somewhere. Once you get one, copy (not install) Windows 98SE CD onto the hard drive while it's attached to another computer. Create a Win 98SE start up disk on a floppy. Put the hard drive back into the 240 and boot from the floppy. At the A:\prompt change to C:\ find setup.exe and away you go.

TIm S

I actually figured it out last night, before seeing your post...I found another of my old laptops that had a 15 head harddrive by default and worked off of it till I finally got it bootable and running. Currently looking for another one with working IR so I can transfer the USB drivers over ><;

I probably did it a ton more complicated, but I went with fdisk /mbr, fdisk to remake the primary partiton, formatting without the system file, copied over the emergency boot disk, booted it up using the hard drive, and ran setup. Everything worked, so I deleted the old autoexec.bat, command.com, and config.sys and the associated files, and coppied the whole Windows 98 CD onto the Hard Drive. When I put it back in the ThinkPad, it instantly started installing drivers, and the ones it couldn't find, I was able to pull from the 98 CD contents.

Now that you have everything working, this may not help much, but it uses the same floppy drive as the 600 and 770 series.

Well, maybe you can help, then...

I have this IBM external floppy drive, on the bottom it says

"IBM Part No.:41H8228
IBM FRU No.:41H7445
*Barcode*
P41H8228"

It has a little cable coming off, and it looks to be compatible, but when I try to fit it into the laptop, it appears to be just a tad too big (but the pin count is the same, shape is the same...all is the same, just too big for the 240).

What was that designed for?

That floppy drive was for the 365 C/CS/E/ED series.

Yikes! The "other number" you included in your first post is your serial number, which the admins on this forum are always advising people never to post publicly.

Although the odds of someone being able to use it to get free service from IBM on a 240 are obviously slim to none!